John W. Maxwell. Jr., 83, passed away May 15, 2024. John was born in Memphis, Tennessee on August 15, 1940 to John and Lavinia Maxwell. He grew up in Springhill, Arkansas attended Arkansas A&M College, and was in the Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He moved to Alaska working with the FBI as a file clerk, and a visit home to his parents and to their work, which was an elementary school in Little Rock, Arkansas, led to the meeting of his wife, Linda Vandever. The two were married February 7, 1970. In 1978, he transferred from Alaska to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with MukLuk Freight Lines, which became Consolidated Freightways, from which he retired from in 2003.

He claimed to have failed retirement, as upon retiring, became a Master Gardener, stayed active with the Kiwanis Club, Jenks Key Club, joined the Broken Arrow Volunteer Police Academy, and volunteered at the Tulsa Zoo. Becoming a Docent at the Tulsa Zoo led to his favorite post-retirement job as a Train Driver for the zoo. Even after retiring from that beloved job, he was still occasionally recognized as the zoo train driver, which brought him much joy. In his life, John was a devoted husband and father, very actively involved with the activities his only child, his daughter, Carolyn, pursued. He was very active with the Young Farmers and Ranchers 4-H club and Tulsa County 4-H, even after she aged out of the program. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 54 years, daughter, Carolyn Mathieson (John C. Mathieson), grandson, Andrew "AJ" Mathieson, and brother Gene Maxwell, and a host of relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be Tuesday, May 28, at 10:00 AM at Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel, 9350 East 51st, Tulsa, OK. Services being handled by Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel 918-663-2233.